Using #HashTags on Social Media

Yes, there is a strategy to using hashtags on social media platforms. Use hashtags sparingly and only when they add value and meaning to the words in your post. Overdoing it with how many words you hashtag in a single post, or how many words you put into the one hashtag can be confusing, ugly, and quite truthfully annoying.

Hashtags are common on most popular social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and now LinkedIn (finally!).

Essentially the word/s or phrase you hashtag become a hyperlink, which then categorises the content into a single stream. This then makes the content discoverable within the relevant social media channel, as well as generally using external platforms and tag-boards that seek, find and compile hash-tagged content. In doing so, it allows people to find relevant content of interest, as per these hash tagged words/phrases, from other people, businesses and organisations.

No doubt, the hashtag is a great tool to connect with and engage other social media users based on a common theme or interest, i.e. what’s trending!

Using hashtags properly can be a great way for companies, organisations and individuals to make their social media posts gain more exposure and increase engagement. It can be fundamental to the overall success on social media, and even generally online.

However, when not used properly, they can make social media posts less attractive and interesting, and in turn less successful. Indeed, studies have proven that using fewer hashtags encourages more engagement, with about 1 to 3 hashtags per post being best.

Here are a few extra tips to help you achieve better success with hashtags online:

Hashtag Do’s

Use relevant, unbranded hashtags

Be specific when using hashtags

Cater hashtags to the social network you’re using

Keep hashtags simple and easy

Build brand presence with a constant standard hashtag; perhaps one of your company name, and another for your slogan.